Daktronics, Inc. Announces 2024 Fiscal Third Quarter Results


BROOKINGS, S.D., Feb. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daktronics, Inc. (NASDAQ-DAKT), a leading global designer and manufacturer of best-in-class dynamic video communication displays and control systems for customers worldwide, today reported results for its fiscal 2024 third quarter which ended January 27, 2024.

Q3 FY2024 financial highlights:

  • Year-to-date product and service orders were $534.4 million(1), an increase of 6.6 percent as compared to $501.4 million in the same period of fiscal 2023; during the third quarter of fiscal 2024, new product and service orders were $192.1 million, a 29.4 percent increase from $148.4 million in the year-earlier period
  • Sales of $170.3 million, a 7.9 percent decrease from the third quarter of fiscal 2023; the year-ago period's record revenue was driven by high backorder fulfillment as a result of recovery from pandemic-related supply chain challenges and labor availability
  • Gross profit as a percentage of net sales of 24.5 percent as compared to 22.6 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2023
  • Operating income of $8.0 million, a 12.9 percent increase as compared to $7.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023
  • Product order backlog was $328.3 million(1) at January 27, 2024 compared to $400.7 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and $429.1 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023 as past periods' overbuilt backlog continues to be worked down through reductions in manufacturing lead times

"Our teams’ strong execution of the manufacturing, operating, sourcing and pricing improvements that we put in place over the past two years drove efficiencies and raised the baseline profitability of the business. As a result, we delivered positive operating income in a seasonally low-volume period that is historically a loss quarter despite lower volume compared to last year’s high level of backorder fulfillment. This performance, plus careful working capital management, generated $8.0 million in operating income. Our orders are up 6.6 percent year-to-date on strong third quarter growth of 29.4 percent, reflecting strengthening demand in each of our domestic end markets,” stated Reece Kurtenbach, Daktronicsʹ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

FQ4 Outlook
Fiscal fourth quarter seasonality is expected to be similar to pre-pandemic patterns. Fiscal 2024 fourth quarter net sales are expected to increase sequentially as compared to the third quarter in fiscal year 2024 and decrease from the year-ago period, which was again a high-volume period in which we were fulfilling backorders related to pandemic recovery. Gross margin is expected to be similar in comparison to the unique 2023 fourth quarter and operating margin and cash flows are expected to be down as compared to this same period.

Kurtenbach added, “Our year-to-date results reflect our strengthened performance and serve as evidence that we have successfully adapted to the business conditions that challenged Daktronics. Our focus for the remainder of the fiscal year is on capturing growth in our addressable end markets by expanding our share of customer spend, adding recurring control system and content development revenue where applicable, and winning new customers. We are also leveraging narrow pixel pitch and other technologies to deepen our penetration of current and enter potential new end markets, including military. Last, we continue to increase our nimbleness and flexibility in capacity allocation and utilization, qualifying each of our plants around the world for selected product manufacture and carefully assigning capacity, adjusting utilization where necessary.”

Third Quarter Performance
Orders for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 increased by 29.4 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2023 driven by strong demand in the Live Events business unit, rebounding demand in the Spectacular and Out‐of‐Home markets in our Commercial business unit, and solid growth in the High School Parks and Recreation and Transportation business units. These higher orders offset an order decrease in the International business unit.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased by 7.9 percent as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The third quarter of every year is characterized by seasonally lower volume, and the decrease is attributable to the year-ago period’s unseasonably record revenue driven by high backorder fulfillment resulting from recovery of pandemic-related supply chain challenges and labor availability. The sales decrease was driven by comparatively lower volumes in the Commercial and International business units, partially offset by order fulfillments in the Live Events, High School Park and Recreation, and Transportation business units.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 24.5 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as compared to 22.6 percent a year earlier. The gross profit improvement is due to strategic pricing, greater efficiency of sales volume generation over the cost structure, and a more stable operating environment.

Operating expenses decreased 2.6 percent to $33.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as compared to $34.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. This decrease is primarily attributable to recording a $4.6 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 that was not repeated in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. This decrease is partially offset by the increases in personnel-related expenses.

Operating income percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 4.7 percent compared to 3.8 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 due to the combined factors discussed above.

The increase in interest (expense) income, net for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the same period one year ago was primarily due to the closing in May 2023 on the financing transactions at higher values and interest rates than were in effect under our previous line of credit during the 2023 third quarter.

For the three months ended January 27, 2024, the Company recorded $6.3 million of income for the non-cash change in fair value of the convertible note payable, which is accounted for under the fair value option.

The effective tax rate of 15.0 percent resulted in $1.9 million of income tax expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Income before tax includes the impacts of the change in the convertible note fair value; however, these changes are not taxable for tax purposes which impacts the effective tax rate. The reduction in the fair value adjustment during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 resulted in a lower than normal effective tax rate. Absent any major tax changes, we expect our full year effective tax rate to be in the mid-twenties before the impacts of fair value accounting for the convertible note.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Cash, restricted cash and marketable securities totaled $77.2 million at January 27, 2024, and $50.0 million of long-term debt was outstanding as of that date. The long-term debt includes the face value of the debt of $39.3 million, the $11.6 million adjustment to fair value, and $0.9 million of debt issuance costs, net. There were no draw-downs on our asset-based revolving credit facility during the first nine months of fiscal 2024 and $32.9 million available to draw at January 27, 2024. In the first nine months of fiscal 2024, we generated $53.8 million from operations and used $13.6 million for purchases of property and equipment. At the end of the fiscal 2024 third quarter, our working capital ratio was 2.2 to 1. Inventory levels dropped 6.2 percent since the end of the 2023 fiscal year on April 29, 2023 and dropped slightly since the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2024. Management’s focus remains on managing working capital through expected growth of the company.

Webcast Information
The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results today at 10:00 am (Central Time). This call will be broadcast live at http://investor.daktronics.com where related presentation materials will also be posted prior to the conference call. A webcast will be available for replay shortly after the event.

About Daktronics
Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world's largest supplier of, large-screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, LED text and graphics displays, and related control systems. The company excels in the control of display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation, and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world in four domestic business units: Live Events, Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and Transportation, and one International business unit. For more information, visit the company's website at: www.daktronics.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is intended to enjoy the protection of that Act. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts and orders, fluctuations in margins, the introduction of new products and technology, the impact of adverse weather conditions, increased regulation, and other risks described in the company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2023 fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are made in the context of information available as of the date stated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

For more information contact:
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Sheila M. Anderson, Chief Financial Officer
Tel (605) 692-0200
Investor@daktronics.com

(1) Orders and backlog are not measures defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and our methodology for determining orders and backlog may vary from the methodology used by other companies in determining their orders and backlog amounts. For more information related to backlog, see Part I, Item 1. Business of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2023. this release does not include a reconciliation of orders or backlog, as it would be impractical to do so without unreasonable effort.

 
Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
Net sales$        170,303  $        184,975  $        602,203  $        544,334 
Cost of sales           128,585             143,262             435,139             445,123 
Gross profit             41,718               41,713             167,064               99,211 
        
Operating expenses:       
Selling             14,258               12,908               41,840               41,866 
General and administrative             10,589                 9,861               31,077               27,989 
Product design and development               8,835                 7,250               26,459               21,655 
Goodwill impairment                     —                 4,576                       —                 4,576 
              33,682               34,595               99,376               96,086 
Operating income               8,036                 7,118               67,688                 3,125 
        
Nonoperating (expense) income:       
Interest (expense) income, net                 (745)                  (398)              (2,952)                  (721)
Change in fair value of convertible note               6,340                       —             (11,570)                      — 
Other expense and debt issuance costs write-off, net             (1,000)              (1,380)              (6,282)              (2,335)
        
Income before income taxes             12,631                 5,340               46,884                       69 
Income tax expense               1,889                 1,627               14,781               14,666 
Net income (loss)$          10,742  $            3,713  $          32,103  $        (14,597)
        
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
Basic             46,173               45,387               45,975               45,320 
Diluted             50,837               45,448               46,608               45,320 
        
Earnings (loss) per share:       
Basic$              0.23  $              0.08  $              0.70  $            (0.32)
Diluted$              0.09  $              0.08  $              0.69  $            (0.32)


Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 January 27,
2024
 April 29,
2023
ASSETS   
CURRENT ASSETS:   
Cash and cash equivalents$           76,764 $           23,982
Restricted cash                    429                     708
Marketable securities                       —                     534
Accounts receivable, net             100,601              109,979
Inventories             140,251              149,448
Contract assets               47,857                46,789
Current maturities of long-term receivables                    271                  1,215
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                 7,853                  9,676
Income tax receivables                 1,504                     326
Total current assets             375,530              342,657
    
Property and equipment, net               72,406                72,147
Long-term receivables, less current maturities                       95                     264
Goodwill                 3,263                  3,239
Intangibles, net                    923                  1,136
Debt issuance costs, net                 2,840                  3,866
Investment in affiliates and other assets               27,314                27,928
Deferred income taxes               16,835                16,867
TOTAL ASSETS$         499,206 $         468,104


Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 January 27,
2024
 April 29,
2023
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
CURRENT LIABILITIES:   
Current portion of long-term debt$              1,500  $                   — 
Accounts payable               49,489                 67,522 
Contract liabilities               68,936                 91,549 
Accrued expenses               36,824                 36,005 
Warranty obligations               12,884                 12,228 
Income taxes payable                    628                   2,859 
Total current liabilities             170,261               210,163 
    
Long-term warranty obligations               21,806                 20,313 
Long-term contract liabilities               16,347                 13,096 
Other long-term obligations                 5,882                   5,709 
Long-term debt, net               48,466                 17,750 
Deferred income taxes                    198                      195 
Total long-term liabilities               92,699                 57,063 
    
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:   
Preferred Shares, no par value, authorized 50,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding                       —                         — 
Common Stock, no par value, authorized 115,000,000 shares; 46,189,311 and 45,488,595 shares issued at January 27, 2024 and April 29, 2023, respectively               65,371                 63,023 
Additional paid-in capital               51,554                 50,259 
Retained earnings             135,513               103,410 
Treasury Stock, at cost, 1,907,445 shares at January 27, 2024 and April 29, 2023, respectively             (10,285)              (10,285)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss               (5,907)                (5,529)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY             236,246               200,878 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY$         499,206  $         468,104 


Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 Nine Months Ended
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:   
Net income (loss)$           32,103  $          (14,597)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:   
Depreciation and amortization               14,370                 12,543 
Loss (gain) on sale of property, equipment and other assets                       98                    (588)
Share-based compensation                 1,598                   1,487 
Equity in loss of affiliates                 2,330                   2,596 
Provision for doubtful accounts, net                    659                      674 
Deferred income taxes, net                       23                 13,028 
Non-cash impairment charges                 1,091                   4,576 
Change in fair value of convertible note               11,570                         — 
Debt issuance costs write-off                  3,353                         — 
Change in operating assets and liabilities             (13,406)              (29,206)
   Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities               53,789                 (9,487)
    
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:   
Purchases of property and equipment             (13,628)              (21,809)
Proceeds from sales of property, equipment and other assets                    107                      612 
Proceeds from sales or maturities of marketable securities                    550                   3,490 
Purchases of equity and loans to equity investees               (4,084)                (3,240)
   Net cash used in investing activities             (17,055)              (20,947)
    
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:   
Borrowings on notes payable               40,485               283,115 
Payments on notes payable             (18,500)            (259,477)
Principal payments on long-term obligations                  (307)                        — 
Debt issuance costs               (6,833)                        — 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                 1,147                         — 
Tax payments related to RSU issuances                  (303)                   (140)
   Net cash provided by financing activities               15,689                 23,498 
    
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH                       80                    (342)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH               52,503                 (7,278)
    
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH:   
Beginning of period               24,690                 18,008 
End of period$           77,193  $           10,730 


Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Net Sales and Orders by Business Unit
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)January
27, 2024
 January
28, 2023
 Dollar
Change
 Percent
Change
 January
27, 2024
 January
28, 2023
 Dollar
Change
 Percent
Change
Net Sales:               
Commercial$33,292 $49,967 $(16,675) (33.4)% $122,628 $127,132 $(4,504) (3.5)%
Live Events 73,393  67,748  5,645  8.3   233,602  193,370  40,232  20.8 
High School Park and Recreation 28,764  28,312  452  1.6   133,940  106,127  27,813  26.2 
Transportation 19,605  17,578  2,027  11.5   61,217  53,797  7,420  13.8 
International 15,249  21,370  (6,121) (28.6)  50,816  63,908  (13,092) (20.5)
 $170,303 $184,975 $(14,672) (7.9)% $602,203 $544,334 $57,869  10.6%
Orders: (1)               
Commercial$34,524 $28,737 $5,787  20.1% $101,167 $119,126 $(17,959) (15.1)%
Live Events 95,217  61,011  34,206  56.1   226,436  193,763  32,673  16.9 
High School Park and Recreation 35,385  28,097  7,288  25.9   103,924  97,574  6,350  6.5 
Transportation 18,924  13,525  5,399  39.9   59,409  45,812  13,597  29.7 
International 8,013  17,005  (8,992) (52.9)  43,450  45,130  (1,680) (3.7)
 $192,063 $148,375 $43,688  29.4% $534,386 $501,405 $32,981  6.6%


Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow*
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 Nine Months Ended
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$           53,789  $            (9,487)
Purchases of property and equipment             (13,628)              (21,809)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment                    107                      612 
Free cash flow$           40,268  $          (30,684)


*In evaluating its business, Daktronics considers and uses free cash flow as a key measure of its operating performance. The term free cash flow is not defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and is not a measure of operating income, cash flows from operating activities or other GAAP figures and should not be considered alternatives to those computations. Free cash flow is intended to provide information that may be useful for investors when assessing period to period results. Daktronics' free cash flow may not have the same meaning or be calculated in the same way as the same or similar terms used by other companies.


Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income*
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
Operating income (GAAP Measure)$              8,036 $              7,118 $           67,688 $              3,125
Plus goodwill impairment                       —                  4,576                        —                  4,576
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP measure)$              8,036 $           11,694 $           67,688 $              7,701


*In evaluating its business, Daktronics considers and uses adjusted operating income as a key measure of its operating performance. The term adjusted operating income is not defined under GAAP and is not a measure of operating income, cash flows from operating activities, or other GAAP figures and should not be considered alternatives to those computations. We define non-GAAP adjusted operating income as operating income plus asset impairments. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted operating income is a useful indicator of our financial performance and our ability to generate cash flows from operations. Our definition of non-GAAP adjusted operating income may not be comparable to similarly titled definitions used by other companies. The table above reconciles non-GAAP adjusted operating income to comparable GAAP financial measures.

         

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (loss)*
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
 January 27,
2024
 January 28,
2023
Net income (loss)$           10,742  $              3,713 $           32,103 $          (14,597)
Change in fair value of convertible note               (6,340)                        —                11,570                        — 
Debt issuance costs expensed due to fair value of convertible note, net of taxes                       —                         —                  2,297                        — 
Adjusted net income (loss)$              4,402  $              3,713 $           45,970 $          (14,597)


*Adjusted net income. We disclose adjusted net income as a non-GAAP financial measurement in order to report our results exclusive of items that are non-recurring or not core to our operating business. We believe presenting this non-GAAP financial measurements provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our performance.


Reconciliation of Long-term Debt
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
 January 27,
2024
 April 29,
2023
ABL credit facility/prior line of credit$                   —  $           17,750
Mortgage               14,250                         —
Convertible note               25,000                         —
Long-term debt, gross               39,250                 17,750
Debt issuance costs, net                  (854)                        —
Change in fair value of convertible note               11,570                         —
Current portion               (1,500)                        —
Long-term debt, net$           48,466  $           17,750